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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
With the preseason finally over, it
is time to set up your fantasy team's
lineup for Week One. Oh, by the way,
the season officially starts on Sept. 6,
and with Indianapolis and New Orleans
facing off, you better be ready
as the first official game is going to
see plenty of fireworks with Peyton
Manning and Drew Brees igniting the
scoreboard.
To make sure you get a jump start
on the fantasy season, check out some
key player matchups, which players to
start and some last minute free-agent
pickups that could show promise in
case of a last minute emergency.
MATCHUPS:
New Orleans versus Indianapolis-
What a better way to start the 2007-
08 season than with a potential
Super Bowl matchup and an almost
certain shootout between high scoring
teams. If you have anyone in this
game, stick them into your lineup because
neither defense is going to slow
down these offenses.
Manning will toss at least three
touchdowns, Brees will only throw
one to two scores because running
backs Deuce McCallister and Reggie
Bush will run a few in. Wide receivers
from both teams are a must.
Chicago versus San Diego- Another
possible Super Bowl matchup
that screams defense, defense and
more defense. We like to think Chargers
quarterback Philip Rivers and
tight end Antonio Gates will hook up
a few times, but Chicago is a defensive
first team.
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson
will have a decent game with one
touchdown scored, but Da Bears' defense
is solid versus the run. Defense
and special teams could score some
points so have those in your starting
lineup.
Have L.T., defenses and Chicago
kicker Robbie Gould in your lineup;
anyone else must be used with caution.
Carolina versus St. Louis- This
game could witness a high-scoring
affair as both defenses are less-thanstellar.
Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme
will hook up to wide receiver
Steve Smith for a few scores while
St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger
is going to pick apart the Panthers'
defense on the turf. If you carry Delhomme,
wide receiver Steve Smith,
quarterback Marc Bulger, wide receivers
Torry Holt and Drew Bennett,
and running back Steven Jackson, it
is in your best interest to put those
players into the lineup.
WHO TO START:
Quarterbacks- Alex Smith versus
Arizona, Jon Kitna versus Oakland,
David Garrard versus Tennessee
Running backs- Larry Johnson
versus Houston, Willis McGahee versus
Cincinnati, Marion Barber versus
the New York Giants, Travis Henry
versus Buffalo and Willie Parker versus
Cleveland.
Wide Receivers- Roy Williams
versus Oakland, Darrell Jackson versus
Arizona, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
versus Baltimore, Marvin Harrison
versus New Orleans, Chris Chambers
versus Washington and Terrell Owens
versus the Giants.
Tight ends- Vernon Davis versus
Arizona, Tony Gonzalez versus Houston,
L.J. Smith versus Green Bay, Chris
Cooley versus Miami and Daniel Graham
versus Buffalo.
Kickers- Josh Brown versus Tampa
Bay, Ryan Longwell versus Atlanta,
Jay Feely versus Dallas and Shayne
Graham versus Baltimore.
Defenses- Minnesota versus Atlanta,
Seattle versus Tampa Bay, San
Diego versus Chicago and Jacksonville
versus Tennessee.
LATE FREE-AGENT PICKUPS:
Anthony Thomas, running back,
Buffalo- Marshawn Lynch is the
starter, but Thomas will still get 10-
15 carries, and being a bulkier back
than Lynch, could steal carries inside
the five yard line and grab a touchdown.
PREDICTION: 65 yards and a
touchdown.
Eddie Kennison, wide receiver,
Kansas City- Kennison is the top receiver
in K.C. and playing defenseless
Houston could result in some catches
and a possible score.
The Chiefs offense looked appalling
in preseason, but so did Houston's
defense. PREDICTION: six catches for
75 yards.
Jerry Porter, wide receiver, Oakland-
I know, I know. How dare I pick
any player from that seemingly pointless
team, but I am taking a shot on
Porter, albeit a long one. Porter takes
on a very weak secondary in Detroit
and Porter has a lot to prove.
Oakland is at home and Culpepper
likes to throw the ball deep and
often. Porter could grab one of those
bombs, and since wide outs are few
and far between in the free-agent
pool, it is either all or nothing for Porter
and his fantasy owner.
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